IntroductiontoEnvironmentalSciences: 1.

AnIntroduction
Earth122 Prof.WalterA.Illman

IntroductiontoEnvironmentalSciences
LECTURER: Prof.WalterA.Illman Office 229CPhysics Officehours:10:00 11:00am,Forby appointment Phone:ext.38341 email:willman@uwaterloo.ca

IntroductiontoEnvironmentalSciences
ClassTime:M,W,F;11:30am 12:20pm Credit:0.5units REQUIREDTEXTS/Materials (AvailableatCampusBookstore): Environment:TheScienceBehindtheStories, 2nd Canadianed. Withgott etal.2012 PearsonCanada IntroductiontoEnvironmentalScienceLectureNotes Winter2013.Illman AvailableonUWLearnEarth122coursewebsite
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IntroductiontoEnvironmentalSciences
ATTENDANCEISREQUIRED 3EXAMS50min. INCLASS
1. Jan25,2013 2. Feb15,2013 3. Mar15,2013

FINALEXAM~50%CUMULATIVE
EarlymidApril(tobeannounced)
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GRADEBREAKDOWN
10Quizzes(unannounced) 3EXAMS 1FINAL TOTAL 100 300 200 600

Examshavetobetakenonthescheduleddates. However,undercertaincircumstances(illness, etc.)withproperdocumentation,makeup examscouldbegivenbyTAs. TalktoTA.

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TeachingAssistants
HEADTEACHINGASSISTANT(TA): JerryHu; Office PHY2022; Officehours:TBDorbyappointment email:c5hu@uwaterloo.ca

TeachingAssistants
LectureportionTA JerryHu(c5hu@uwaterloo.ca) Questionsoncoursematerials(Earth122),add/dropforms, reschedulingofexams Laboratoryportion(Earth122L)TAs FatemehVakili(fvakili@uwaterloo.ca) WilliamSellier (whsellier@gmail.com) AmandaNiederkorn(aniederk@uwaterloo.ca) Questionsonlaboratoryportion,add/dropforms
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Labportionannouncements
Nolabsfirstweek!!! IfyouareregisteredinEarth122L,lab attendanceismandatory~nomakeupsunless thereisanemergencyorillness (documentationrequired).
WorkoutwithTA

HowtoAcethisClass
Readassignedchapterbeforecomingtoclass Cometoclass Payattention!Takenotes!Focusonemphasized subjects.Readassignedchapteragainemphasizing materialcoveredinlecture Besuretoreviewdefinitionsineachchapter Dontprocrastinate(keepupwithmaterial)

BasicRulesandConsiderations
Talkingisdisruptivetoyourclassmatesandyour professor!!

Thislecturewillhelpyouunderstand:
Themeaningoftheterm environment Theimportanceofnatural resources Thatenvironmentalscienceis interdisciplinary Thescientificmethodandhow scienceoperates Somepressuresfacingthe globalenvironment Articulateconceptsof sustainabilityandsustainable development
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CentralCase:EarthfromSpace: ThePowerofanImage
Priorto1967,noonehadseenaphotographofthe wholeplanet OnNovemeber 9,1967 asimplephotographfrom theunmannedApollo4,showingcresentEarth changedbothsocietyandhistory Earthrise takenhandheldbyApollo8astronaut JamesLovell,December24,1968 Apollo17,1972 famousBlueMarbleimagecredited withkickstartingthemodernenvironmental movement
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OurIsland,Earth
Environment:Allthethingsarounduswithwhich weinteract:
Biotic(livingthings)
Animals,plants,forests,soils,etc.

Abiotic(nonlivingthings)
Continents,oceans,clouds,icecaps

Ourbuiltenvironment
Structures,humancreatedlivingcenters

Socialrelationshipsandinstitutions
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Environmentalscienceexploresinteractions betweenhumans&thephysical+biologicalworld
Humansarealteringthenaturalsystemsweneed Enrichment: Health,lifespan,wealth,mobility,leisure Impacts: Naturalsystemshavebeendegraded Longtermthreatonhealthandsurvival Environmentalscience isthestudyof: Howthenaturalworldworks Howtheenvironmentaffectshumansandviceversa Suchknowledgeisessentialindevisingsolutionsto environmentalproblems

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Naturalresources:vitaltohumansurvival
Naturalresources=varioussubstancesandenergysources neededforsurvival

Renewableresources: Perpetuallyavailable:sunlight,wind,waveenergy Renewthemselvesovershortperiods:timber,water,soil canbeoverharvestedandcanbecomenonrenewable Nonrenewableresources:finitesupply;canbedepleted Oil,coal,minerals

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Naturalresources:vitaltohumansurvival
Resource management:
- Balancingtheuseof aresourcewithits protectionand preservation - Thestock isthe harvestableportion oftheresource

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sardines__%E9%B0%AF(%E3%81%84%E3%82%8F%E3%81%97).jpg

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Globalhumanpopulationgrowth
Morethan7billionhumans(late 2011);Whysomanyhumans? OldStoneAge(~2.5Mya)
Fireandtools

Agriculturalrevolution(~10Kya)
Stablefoodsupplies

Industrialrevolution(mid1700s)
Urbanizedsocietypoweredbyfossil fuels Sanitationandmedicines Morefood

Medicaltechnologicalrevolution (now)

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Resourceconsumptionexerts socialandenvironmentalimpacts
Totalimpact(I)ontheenvironmentasthe productofpopulation(P),affluence(A),and technology(T):

I P AT
Impactsofpopulationincrease; Impactsofincreasedconsumptionofnatural resources(i.e.,affluence);and Impactsofnewtechnologyontheenvironment.
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CarryingCapacity
Carryingcapacity: itisameasureoftheabilityofa systemtosupportlife.
Thenumberofindividualsofaparticularspeciesthat canbesustainedbythebiologicial productivityofa givenareaofland

Expressedasnumberofindividualsofparticular speciesthatcanbesustainedbythebiological productivityofagivenareaofland. Exceedingthecarryingcapacity:

Populationdeclineorcollapse Systemwillbealtered,damaged,ordepleted
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TheTragedyoftheCommons
Unregulatedexploitation
leadstoresourcedepletion Resourceusersaretempted toincreaseuseuntilthe resourceisgone Solution?
Privateownership? Voluntaryorganizationto enforceresponsibleuse? Governmentalregulations?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

Resourceconsumptionexerts socialandenvironmentalimpacts
Calculatingourecologicalfootprint:
Theenvironmentalimpactofanindividualor population Amountofbiologicallyproductiveland+water requiredtoproviderawmaterialsapopulation consumesandabsorbthewasteproduced

Overshoot: humanshavesurpassedthe Earthscapacity

Weareusing39%moreoftheplanetsresourcesthanare availableonasustainablebasisfromalltheland!
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Environmentalscience
canhelpusavoidmistakesmadeinthepast.

ThelessonofEasterIsland:peopleannihilatedtheircultureby destroyingtheirenvironment.Canweactmorewiselytoconserve ourresources?

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island

Environmentalscience isinterdisciplinary
Environmentalproblemsisa complexendeavourthat requiresexpertisefrommany disciplines Environmentalscienceisthus aninterdisciplinaryfield Anintegratedapproachto addressingproblemscan produceeffectiveandlasting solutions

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Environmentalscience isinterdisciplinary
Whatexpertswouldyou needfor:
Theconstructionofanew hydroelectricdam? Theproposeddrainingof awetlandtobuildanew subdivision? Aproposaltopermitbear huntinginanationalpark Themanagementofa largeoilspilloffshore fromapristinebeach?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill

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Whatisanenvironmentalproblem?
Theperceptionofwhatconstitutes aproblemvariesbetween individualsandsocieties Age,gender,class,race,nationality, employmentandeducationcan affectperception e.g.DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), apesticide
Indevelopingcountries:welcome becauseitkillsmalariacarrying mosquitoes Indevelopedcountries:notwelcome, duetohealthrisks

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Environmentalscienceisnot environmentalism
Environmentalscience
Thepursuitofknowledgeabouttheworkingsof theenvironmentandourinteractionswithit; Scientiststrytoremainobjective.

Environmentalism
Asocialmovementdedicatedtoprotectingthe naturalworldandbyextension,humansfrom undesirablechangesbroughtaboutbyhuman choices.
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Thenatureofscience
Science:
Asystematicprocessforlearningabouttheworldand testingourunderstandingofit Adynamicprocessofobservation,testing,and discovery Theaccumulatedbodyofknowledgethatresultsfrom thisprocess

Scienceisessentialfor
Sortingfactfromfiction Developingsolutionstotheproblemsweface
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Science:Criticallyexaminingevidence
Scientistsdesigntests:areideas supportedbyevidence? Explanationsmust:
Betestable Resistrepeatedattemptsto disproveit

Acceptedideascanbeappliedin policyandmanagement decisions(e.g.prescribed burning)

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Thescientificmethod
Ascientistmakesanobservation and asksquestions ofsomephenomenon Thescientistformulatesa hypothesis, astatementthatattempts toexplainthescientificquestion. Thehypothesisisusedtogenerate predictions,whicharespecific statementsthatcanbedirectlyand unequivocallytested. Thetestresults eithersupportor rejectthehypothesis
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Therearedifferentwaystotesthypotheses
Manipulativeexperiments yield thestrongestevidence Canshowcausation Notalwayspossibletouse Natural orcorrelational tests showrealworldcomplexity Cannotshowcausation

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Thescientificprocessispartofalargerprocess
Thescientificprocess includespeerreview, publication,anddebate Aconsistently supportedhypothesis becomesatheory,awell testedandwidely acceptedexplanation Withenoughdata,a paradigmshift a changeinthedominant view canoccur
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Sustainabilityandthefutureofourworld
Humanpopulation growthexacerbatesall environmentalproblems
Thegrowthratehasslowed,butwestilladdmore than200,000peopletotheplaneteachday

Ourconsumption ofresourceshasriseneven fasterthanourpopulationgrowth.

Lifehasbecomemorepleasantforussofar However,risingconsumptionamplifiesthedemands wemakeonourenvironment.
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Ecologicalfootprintsarenotallequal
Theecologicalfootprintsof countriesvarygreatly
Canadausesfarmorethanits equalshareoftheworlds resources Developingcountrieshavemuch smallerfootprintsthan developedcountries

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Wefacechallengesinagriculture
Expandedfoodproductionledto increasedpopulationandconsumption Itsoneofhumanitysgreatest achievements,butatanenormous environmentalcost
Nearlyhalfoftheplanetslandsurfaceisused foragriculture
Chemicalfertilizers Pesticides Erosion Changednaturalsystems
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Wefacechallengesinpollution
Wasteproductsandartificialchemicalsused infarms,industries,andhouseholds

Eachyear,millionsofpeoplediefrompollution
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Wefacechallengesinclimate
Scientistshavefirmlyconcludedthathumansare changingthecompositionoftheatmosphere TheEarthssurfaceiswarming
Meltingglaciers Risingsealevels Impactedwildlifeandcrops Increasinglydestructiveweather

SincetheIndustrialRevolution,atmospheric carbondioxideconcentrationshaverisenby37%, tothehighestlevelin650,000years

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http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-life/living-green/staticslideshowgreenchan.aspx?cpdocumentid=18995580&imageindex=7

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Wefacechallengesinbiodiversity
Humanactionshavedrivenmanyspeciesextinct, andbiodiversityisdecliningdramatically
Weareattheonsetofamassextinctionevent

Biodiversitylossmaybeourbiggestenvironmentalproblem; onceaspeciesisextinct,itisgoneforever
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TheMillenniumEcosystemAssessment
Themostcomprehensivescientificassessment oftheconditionoftheworldsecological systems(2005);2000scientistsfromnearly100 countries Majorfindings:
Humanshavedrasticallyalteredecosystems; Thesechangeshavecontributedtohumanwellbeingand economicdevelopment,butatacost; Environmentaldegradationcouldgetmuchworseduring firsthalfofthiscentury; Degradationcanbereversed,butitrequireswork.
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Ourenergychoiceswillaffectourfuture
Theliveswelivetodayareduetofossilfuels
Machines Chemicals Transportation Products

Fossilfuelsareaonetimebonanza;supplieswill certainlydecline Wehaveusedupoftheworldsoilsupplies;how willwehandlethisimminentfossilfuelshortage?

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Sustainablesolutionsexist
Wemustdevelopsolutionsthatprotectbothour qualityoflifeandtheenvironment
Organicagriculture Technology Reducepollution Conservation Recycling Renewableenergy sources

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Arethingsgettingbetterorworse?
Manypeoplethinkenvironmentalconditionsare better
Cornucopians: Humaningenuitywillsolveanyproblem

Somethinkthingsaremuchworseintheworld
Cassandras: predictdoomanddisaster

Howcanyoudecidewhoiscorrect?
Aretheimpactslimitedtohumans,orareotherorganisms orsystemsinvolved? Aretheproponentsthinkinginthelongorshortterm? Aretheyconsideringallcostsandbenefits?
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Sustainabilityinvolvesmeeting environmental,social,andeconomicgoals
Majorchallenge:Howcanhumanslivewithinthe planetsmeans?
Humanscannotexistwithoutfunctioningnaturalsystems

Sustainability
LeavesfuturegenerationswitharichandfullEarth ConservestheEarthsnaturalresources Maintainsfullyfunctioningecologicalsystems

Sustainabledevelopment:theuseofresourcesto satisfycurrentneedswithoutcompromisingfuture availabilityofresources

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Willwedevelopinasustainableway?
Thetriplebottomline: sustainablesolutionsthat meet
Environmentalgoals Economicgoals Socialgoals

Requiresthathumansapply knowledgefromthesciences to
Limitenvironmentalimpacts Maintainfunctioningecological systems
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Summary
Environmentalsciencehelpsusunderstandour relationshipwiththeenvironmentandinforms ourattemptstosolveandpreventproblems. Identifyingaproblemisthefirststepinsolvingit. Solvingenvironmentalproblemscanmoveus towardshealth,longevity,peaceandprosperity. Environmentalsciencecanhelpusfindbalanced solutionstoenvironmentalproblems.
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Whatcanyoudo?
Educate yourselfand others Votewith yourdollars Voteinyour politicians withthe environment inmind
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